As the Nov, 3 election approaches, there is no shortage of opinions among Mississippians.
Who should be our next President (Trump or Biden)? Who should be our next U.S. Senator (Cindy Hyde-Smith or Mike Espy)? Should we adopt a new design for a state flag to replace the old flag the Legislature discarded this summer? Should we pass an amendment to the state constitution to make medical marijuana legal? Should our future governors be determined by popular vote alone or hang on to a relic of a Jim Crow rule designed to diminish the Black vote?
Chances are, if you were to pose any of these questions to the people you meet in the course of our day, everyone would have a pretty firm opinion.
What you might also find is that there are many Mississippians who have forfeited the ability to act on those opinions, either because they have failed to register to vote or fail to go to the polls to cast their ballots.
Our history is filled with stories about people who cherished the right to vote and fought, figuratively and sometimes literally, to secure that right. At one point, only white male property owners who were 21 years old or older held the right to participate in the form of self-government that formed the basis of our society.
Over the long arc of history, Blacks, women and young people waged long, but ultimately successful campaigns to secure those rights.
That Americans should be so neglectful of those hard-earned rights is an insult to their memory and sacrifice.
Registering to vote and then going to the polls should not be considered simply a right, but an obligation of every American. It’s a foundational underpinning of civic responsibility.
We will continue to urge people to register to vote and go to the polls to cast their ballots or vote by absentee ballot.
First things first, though.
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election is quickly approaching. Anyone who wishes to vote must register by Oct. 5. Mississippi does not permit online voter registration, so you either have to register at the circuit clerk’s office, participate in one of many voter registration drives or register by mail.
For those who have previously registered to vote, it’s never a bad idea to check in with the circuit clerk’s office prior to the election to confirm your status as a registered voter.
Once you have registered, you’ll be notified of your polling location. Make plans to vote once you have registered.
If you have an opinion on any of the matters that will be settled on Nov. 3, this is the only means you really have of making that opinion matter.
Register, then vote.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.